Quote:
Originally Posted by mbyron
There is no basis in the rules for this restriction on R's right to a fair catch.
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Actually there is a basis for it--of sorts.
2-7-2: A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled his intention by extending one hand only clearly above his head and waving that hand from side to side of his body more than once
2-7-3: An invalid signal is any waving signal by a player of Team B that does not meet this requirement.
So the time frame is: however long it takes him to clearly wave one hand from side to side at least twice.
EDIT: In hindsight, I should have been more specific about my scenario involving an invalid signal.
My whole point was: if the signal is being given so late that the signaller doesn't
have time to meet the requirements of 2-7-2, and instead he does a single, chin-high wave, then he isn't afforded the normal post-touching protection.
The quickie/single wave signal I was talking about is, by definition, invalid.
Yes, Team A could still commit a personal or flagrant foul. But if it's a "normal/clean" hit, then there shouldn't be a foul.
Rereading Rule 6 now I see the issue. It starts with:
No player of Team B shall make any invalid signal.
Next it says,
Any signal is invalid after it's caught, touches ground, etc.
But these don't mean the same thing. You can have an invalid signal before the ball touches something.
The second point just means that once the ball touches the ground, the nice-high-double-cross-body wave (normally the shining symbol of validity), is just another crummy invalid signal.